MEDIA REPORTS FROM WEST PAPUA: Cenderawasih Post, 4/12/2008 MOMENTS BEFORE BUCHTAR WAS ARRESTED Buchtar Tabuni when interviewed by Cenderawasih Post few minutes before he was being arrested by the police stated a protest against the police’s plan to arrest him. Accoring to Buchtar if the police wanted to arrest him they could send him a letter to call him to come to the police headquarter. Buchtar confirmed that he has not got any letter from the Papua regional office and only knew about his arrest from mass media. ‘If the police wanted to arrest me they should follow the procedures of arresting someone, not just acting spontaneously’, Buchtar said. He said that he is ready to take responsibility of what he has done, if the police could produce a letter that explains his arrest. However, the way the police arrested Buchtar confirmed the truth of 1st of December 2008 West papua Declaration which was being read out in Theys Eluay Memorial park. The declaration said that Papua is now an emergency zone and that it needs to be saved because native Papuans are facing genocide which has been systematically planned. If that was the case, then, the police had wrongly accused him. Because the person who produced the declaration was Tom Beanal. Therefore it was Tom Beanal that the police should arrest. However, Buchtar said that we have our international lawyer from United Kingdom who could produce legal advice on what we have done (in supporting the official launch of International Parliamentarians for West papua in London). Our internal lawyer is Ms Melinda Janki’, Buchtar said. (bat/jim) Cenderawasih Post, 04 Desember 2008 11:36:17 FINALLY BUCHTAR WAS ARRESTED. Was crying when he was taken to the police headquarter. (Buchtar: Police should arrest Tom Beanal not me). JAYAPURA- The Indonesian Papua police’s intention to arrest Buchtar Tabuni wa finally fulfilled. Buchtar Tabuni, chairman of the committee of the launch of International parliamentarians for West Papua in West Papua was arrested and taken from his house in BTN Purwodadi Sentani Timur, Jayapura Regency. Buchtar, the man with a beard was arrested by the police on Wednsday (3/12) at 11.45. Iptu YP Senandi led the police to arrest of Buchtar Tabuni. The arrest was quick and short. It took about 5 minutes to arrest Buchtar and put him into a black police vehicle. Buchtar was crying when he was taken by the police vehicle to the police headquarter. . A source said that Buchtar was not beaten Buchtar arrived in the Indonesian Papua police headquarter in and was met by Drs Paulus Waterpauw, director of Papua police criminal unit. After that, a medical team checked Buchtar’s health. Drs Paulus Waterpauw confirmed to the journalists that there were 3 teams that went to arrest Buchtar. Paulus Waterpauwe stated that there has been some communications with Buchtar but Buchtar insisted that he should a letter of arrest from the Police before he is taken to the police. However, the police already had enough evidence and had decided Buchtar as the accused so the arrest was immediately taken. Mr Waterpauw regretted Buchtar attitude. According to Waterpauw, Buchtar should come alone to the police headquarter to clarify everything that he has been accused of. However, Buchtar seemed to ignore so the police came and arrest him from his house. Buchtar did not oppose the police when he was arrested in his home. Mr Waterpauw praised the police team who arrested Buchtar saying ‘I thank the criminal operation unit who has been working very-very hard until Buchtar was finally arrested’. According to Mr Waterpauw, Buchtar status was changed from a witness into the accused because his actions had clearly against the government and lower the credibility and dignity of the Indonesian government. There are enough evidence to arrest Buchtar as the accused in the subversive actions against the state. The order to arrest Buchtar was issued on the night of the 1st of December 2008. ‘We wanted to arrest him on the 1st of December but there were some people who said he will come alone to the police headquarter, we did not arrest him’. Waterpauw said. “We will intensively investigate him and if there are evidence, we will imprison him", Waterpauw said. Mr Waterpauw emphasized that if Buchtar is found guilty, he will be jail minimum 7 years and maximum a life sentence. Are there any other people who will follow Buchtar? Paulus Waterpauw said that there is a possibility of other people being involved, however, the focus now is on Buchtar and this will take a long process. Meanwhile Buchtar’s lawyers, Iwan Niode SH, Latifah Anum Siregar SH and Rizal SH from Papua Democratic Alliance (ALDP) regretted the police’s way of arresting Buchtar. ‘I regretted that there wasn’t a letter shown to Buchtar about his arrest’, One of his lawyers said. Buchtar rejected subversive accusations against him and said that all accusations are wrong. ‘It’s all wrong’, Buchtar said. Buchtar said he felts so hurt with what he’s just experienced. He said that he has been intimidated by the police during his arrest.(bat)

BUCHTAR’S ARREST WAS REGRETTED http://www.cenderawasihpos.com/detail.php?id=22194 04 Desember 2008 11:32:38 Weynand Watori, Papua Province parliamentary chair of Law and Human Rights has regretted the arrest of Buchtar Tabuni who was accused of conducting subversive actions and said that it was a very overacting scene. ‘It was too much! Buchtar should not be arrested for speaking against injustice’, Weinand said to Cenderawasih Post yesterday. According to Weynand, Buchtar’s case show that there was an arrogance and show off power in handling the case while another process of violating law was never touched. Weinand referred to the state government regulation no 77 that bans regional symbols which Weynand considered has violated the special autonomy law for Papua. ‘So I have seen that there is an ignorance of this violation and an arrogance and show off power in handling a different case’, Weynand said seriously. Weynand said that chapter 2 of the special autonomy law covers regional symbols. However, that matter has never been touched. Now Buchtar was accused as acting against the state, in what context was Buchtar guilty of acting against the state. What about the government who acted against special autonomy law, didn’t the also act against the state?, Weynand said this cynically. Weynand questioned the government’s policy against the special autonomy law could be considered as subversive actions. ‘Do not just say that anybody disagree with the government commits subversive actions. Any action against the law is also against the state’, Weynand stated it seriously. Weynand said that we have to put things right so we can avoid actions such as the arrest (of Buchtar Tabuni). Weynand proposed a just dialog and not using various ways of judging the native Papuans and accusing them because they were celebrating the 1st of December or talking about West Papua independence. ‘This does not give a good political education. Let us all sit together and discuss the issue comprehensively’, Weynand added> According to Weynand, the heart of a democracy is different opinions. If there should not be different opinions, then, it is not a democracy. We have a law no 5 year 1985 that guarantee the freedom in public. Buchta action therefore should not be attacked by should be responded wisely why or what has happened. (bat/ta)

BUCHTAR REFUSED TO BE QUESTIONED BY THE POLICE http://www.cenderawasihpos.com/detail.php?id=22248 05 Desember 2008 10:36:48 Jayapura, Buchtar Tabuni, Committee Chairman of the launch of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua in West Papua who has been stated as the accused (of subversive actions) refused to be questioned by the criminal section of the Papua police on Thursday (4/12/2008). As a result, the criminal section of the Papua police who interrogated Buchtar from 09.00 to 13.00 has not had any information yet from Buchtar. Buchtar lawyer also confirmed this situation. Buchtar said to the police that he had been questioned as a witness before and therefore he refused to be questioned as the accused. He said that he would only give testimony in the court because the court is the place where the decision about whether he is guilty or not is made. Buchtar lawyer, Iwan Niode considered Buchtar’s rejection is his right and that the right is recognised by law. ‘The investigators will produce notes of meeting about Buchtar’s rejection as the accused’, Iwan said. Buchtar’s accusations were based on articles 106, 107, 108, 110 and 160 of the Indonesian criminal law and he was immediately arrested by the Papua Police criminal unit. Buchtar’s lawyer said that they would try to get postponement of Buchtar’s inprisonment. Other lawyers who were discussing Buchtar’s case were Hari Maturbongs. Latifah Anum Siregar and Faizal. “We are examining the process of Buchtar’s arrest to find out whether the procedures of arresting Buchtar Tabuni was done in accordance with the legal procedures or not. If not we will take legal actions. We will tell what legal actions will be taken”, One of Buchtar’s lawyer said. Drs Agus Rianto from Papua police confirmed Buchtar’s rejection and said that he regretted that rejection and that the rejection will make it difficult to reveal Buchtar’s case. However, Agus Rianto said that the police has had witness and other evidence. ‘Thus, if Buchtar refused to give information, that will not benefit him’, he added. Speaking separately, Drs Paulus Waterpauw also confirmed Buchtar’s rejection to give information. ‘The police investigators will keep question and whether Buchtar answers or not we will keep produce notes of meetings. So the more he rejects the more notes of the meetings we produce. ‘This is all based on the state criminal law. So, no problem!’ We have had enough evidence and witnesses and all based on the state criminal law.Waterpauw said When questioned about Buchtar’s lawyers’ intention to ask for the delay in Buchtar’s arrest, Paulus Waterpauw said that it is Buchtar’s right to ask for a delay in his arrest and he has the right to oppose the law. Paulus Waterpauw and Agus Rianto from Papua police have been called the Papua Regional parliament deputy speaker, Mr Paskalis Kosaay. Paulus Waterpauw said that there have been complaints from certain people who request the parliaments to take actions because this matter is a political matter and it is not a criminal matter. However, Paulus said that this is a criminal case and it should not be politicized. ‘Buchtar Tabuni’s case is purely a criminal case so it should be brought into political arena’, he said. Paulus also said that he had said the same thing to the crowds who gathered at the Papua police headquarters minutes after Buchtar was arrested. According Paulus Waterpauw, police only investigate Buchtar but it is the court that will decide whether Buchtar is guilty or not and therefore this pure criminal case should not be politicized. Waterpauw added that in the freedom of expression, there are laws that govern it. The law said that there should be some notices that are sent to the police and that there are some administrative procedures that the organizers should fulfil. When all the administrative procedures are completed and that the event was approved/allowed by the police, then, the police will guard the whole process of the event. Paulus said that what happened was not like that. “They suddenly did their actions and spoke against the government and started to invite people to follow the way they think. This is not right. And there are laws that govern all these. So do not pretend that you don’t know the law. Paulsu Waterpauw said that every citizen obeys law and are equal under law. Paulus said that this is what he told the deputy speaker of the Papua regional parliament, Mr Paskalis Kossay and that the deputy speaker could understand. Paskalis Kossay and other members of parliament stated that they cannot intervene the legal process which is in the process at the moment. Agus Rianto from Papua Police also added that the regional parliament of Papua Province principally supported Indonesian Police’s legal enforcement. (*)

Protestors demanded Buchtar’s release without pre-conditions http://www.cenderawasihpos.com/utm.php Cenderawasih Post 5th December 2008 Buchtar Tabuni’s arrest was immediately caused reactions from his supporters including activists and his colleagues. They had a vigil outside the gate of the Papua police headquarter at around 15.00. Dozens of people came with two trucks and started shouting and demanding the release of Buchtar Tabuni from the police’s arrest. Few people who came earlier, Markus Haluk, Madame Yosopha Alomang and three of their friends went first to the police headquarter and wanted to get in. However, they were refused by the police guards. They insisted that they wanted to meet the head of the Papua police criminal section, Drs Paulus Waterpauw. Victor Yeimo during his speech urged the police to immediately release Buchtar Tabuni without preconditions. The protesters questioned the police about the arrest of Buchtar Tabuni who was arrested without any prior notice from the police. Victor Yeimo, a colleague of Buchtar stated that the police’s action was not done in accordance with the procedures for arresting someone. The director of Papua Police criminal section stated that Buchtar was arrested because of his subversive actions in front of Expo Waena on the 16th of October 2008. Victor said that Buchtar was not alone in organising the action because everyone was doing it so the police should arrest everyone who was part of the demonstration. The protestors also argued that their demonstration was also guaranteed by the law especially about freedom of expression. About 17.30, representatives from the protestor were allowed to meet the director of criminal section of the Papua police. After meeting Mr Paulus Waterpauw, director of criminal section of the Papua police, Victor said that the explanation that Waterpauw gave was not clear. ‘Our friend (Buchtar) cannot be released. He did not speak, perhaps tomorrow he will speak’ Victor said. Victor said that there are some assumptions that Buchtar has been intimidated by the police when Buchtar was arrested. Victor sensed that there was an effort to threaten Buchtar, Victor added, "This is a political matter not a legal matter so it should be dealt with politically not legally’. He said that the protestors will return to do a demo outside the Papua police headquarter. Iwan Niode, Buchtar’s lawyer said to the journalists that his client was still shock. When questioned whether the arrest has been conducted in accordance with legal procedures, Iwan said that the way Buchtar was arrested did not respect human right. It’s true that Buchtar was not beaten when he was arrested but at least his right should be fully acknowledged. Iwan added that Buchtar has said that the police swore (has said abusive words) to him. Palus Waterpauw denied Buchtar’s statement about intimidation and that everything has been done in accordance with the arrest procedures. Waterpauw said that perhaps Buchtar Tabuni was shocked because in the arrest he did not want to cooperate with the police. "We will accuse Buchtar with state criminal law article 106, 110 and 160 and we will present all evidence’, Paulus said.